Breaking News

Anchor Kyle Dyer, right, interviews Michael Robinson, center, owner of Max, an 85-pound Argentine mastiff, and a firefighter who rescued the dog from an icy pond. Dyer was bitten in the face during the interview. (Photo courtesy of 9 News)

A journalistic judgment call is being answered in starkly different ways by Colorado media outlets.

When anchor Kyle Dyer was bitten and seriously injured by a dog in the KUSA Channel 9 studio during a live broadcast, newsroom personnel had a decision to make: to further convey to the public the shocking video, which was available later on YouTube, or to tell the story without replaying the images.

After the accident, KUSA VP-news director Patti Dennis asked her colleagues at other stations to refrain from showing the most graphic portions of the incident.

"It's fair use. They'll do what they want," Dennis said today.

Most print and electronic journalists have honored the request.

Fox31, however, has broadcast the footage multiple times and intends to continue to do so.

"We had a spirited editorial debate in our newsroom and determined journalistically it was the right thing to do," said Ed Kosowski, VP-news director for KDVR and KWGN, Channel 2. "The other stations are wimps. They caved in to pressure from KUSA."

His station has used the video in reporting the larger context of the dangers for pet owners, including interviewing a veterinarian "on day one."

The station has received no complaints, and is not broadcasting the footage for the ratings, he said, although February is an important sweeps month when local TV ratings are measured to set future ad rates.

Advertisement

"KUSA is overly sensitive," Kosowski said, citing examples on KUSA's own website of "people being injured or killed."

The Denver Post has not posted the video in coverage of the incident.

Dyer was interviewing the owners of Max, an Argentine mastiff that had been rescued from an icy pond in Lakewood the day before, and the paramedic who saved him.

After several minutes on air, Dyer leaned in close to the dog and put her face near his. The dog lunged and bit her lip. She underwent four hours of reconstructive surgery. She was released from the hospital last week. On Saturday, she said in a Facebook posting that her mouth is sewn shut to encourage healing.

The dog has been in quarantine since the bite. He is scheduled to be released to his owners this weekend.

Rockies are on pace to lose 93 games this seasonThe Rockies lost three of four in St. Louis and are on pace to lose 93 games as they come home for a three-game series with Seattle before going back on the road again to face Washington.